A crowd of roughly 450 people flocked to Modern Maturity in Dover for the 53rd annual Governor’s Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning, which coincided with the National Day of Prayer.

The theme for this year’s breakfast was “We celebrate those who serve.” Prayers and speeches were offered to honor military personnel, police officers and emergency service workers.

“Today is about coming together,” said Gov. Jack Markell. “It’s a joy to see people being brought together to focus on what matters,”

Prayers were offered from people of various faiths. Sardar Surender Singh Joneja, of the Sikh Society of Delaware offered the invocation; Col. Nathaniel McQueen Jr., superintendent of the Delaware State Police offered a prayer for the nation and the state; State Reps. Harvey Kenton (R-Milford) and William Carson (D-Smyrna) read scripture and Rev. Maribel Zaragoza of Maranatha Christian Church in Dover offered the benediction.

Musical performances were given by Olivia Boddicker, of St. Thomas More Academy, and Emily Elizabeth Foraker, a member of the Brandywine Harp Orchestra.

The guest speaker for the event was United States Marine Corps Chaplin Margaret Grun Kibben.

Markell focused on serving others in his remarks.

“All honest work is an opportunity for service,” he said. “Whether we work quietly in an office or we are more engaged with others, we can find a spirit of service that engages more than our hands, more than our minds, even more than our hearts. We can employ our souls in what we do.”